High school football: Midwest City defense returns to prominence

MIDWEST CITY — Trying to comprehend the 2012 season of Midwest City football is hard for anyone who understands the history of the program.

Midwest City's Demeco Wright (9) breaks up a pass intended for Yukon's Caelan Groce (24) during a high school football game between Yukon and Midwest City in Yukon, Okla., Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

Once the most dominant big-school football team in the state, the Bombers won three games a year ago, and gave up 35 points per game.

While the offense has been a work in progress this season, the defense is back to playing old-school Bomber football.

Through 10 games, No. 1-ranked Jenks has allowed 123 total points. The seventh-ranked Bombers have allowed 126 — and eight of those points came courtesy of a safety on the offense and a kick return against the special teams.

With the defense on the field, Midwest City gave up just 118 total points in the regular season. Last year's 351 points allowed might be the worst single season in Bomber history, and a year later, they're one of the best defenses in Class 6A.

“We wanted to bring the old Midwest City back,” linebacker Bryan Hartfield said. “Tradition has been a huge part of our motivation. We're going back to what we used to be, and that starts with good defense.”

No running back has rushed for more than 100 yards in a game against the Bombers, and only two teams have done so — none in the last eight weeks. Only one quarterback — Alabama commit David Cornwell of Norman North — threw for more than 200.

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A lifelong resident of the Oklahoma City metro area, Scott Wright has been on The Oklahoman staff since 2005, covering a little bit of everything on the state's sports scene. He has been a beat writer for football and basketball at Oklahoma and...